On June 1, 2019 Col. Jeff “Sled” Smith will step down as the Commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing, and Col. Jeff “Thug” Edwards will take command of the wing. It marks the final chapter in their careers which began when they stepped off the same bus at the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1991.

Salem, Ore. – HB 3030 passed in a unanimous vote on the House Floor on Thursday. The bill was chief-sponsored by Rep. E. Werner Reschke (R-Klamath Falls) who worked with Rep. McLane, Klamath County Commissioners, and Col. Jeff Smith, Commander 173rd Fighter Wing.

KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. - The 173rd Fighter Wing STARBASE program and Airman and Family Readiness Center provided children of Kingsley Field Airmen an afternoon of hands-on learning designed to be interactive and fun. More than 30 children took part in the third annual Kingsley Kids’ day, April 6, 2019.

The Oregon Wing of the Civil Air Patrol held their Non-Commission Officers School and Airman Basic Class for cadets (ages 12-18) in Klamath Falls last weekend.

The event was hosted by our own Klamath Falls Composite Squadron and held at the Kingsley National Air Guard Base. Participants came from various areas of Oregon including High Desert, Medford, Aurora, Washington County and Grants Pass to attend this rewarding event.

The 173rd Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Jeff “Sled” Smith, has started a new program to communicate with Airmen across the base. Labeled “SLED Talks”, a play on the name of the highly popular TED talks, these are small group discussions held with 12 or less individuals on a routine basis.

Klamath Falls, Ore. - As announcer Bob Chambrose called out the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces – Coast Guard! Air Force! Navy! Marines! Army! -- veterans and active duty military members made their way towards the front of the Henley High School’s basketball court.

KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – The 173rd Fighter Wing will welcome home a team of 15 Airmen from a six-month deployment to Iraq, Jan. 4, 2018, here. A demobilization ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the base theater.

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement a provision in this year’s FAA spending bill that would allow airports that utilize the contract tower program to become eligible for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants from the small airport fund.

Students and staff at Peterson Elementary School wore red, white, and blue Friday for a good cause: to help local military members and their families.

For a $5 donation, students and staff could wear the patriotic colors. In all, the 660 students and 40 staff members raised $708 for the 173rd Fighter Wing’s David R. Kingsley Foundation, which provides funds for military families in need.

Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited the 173rd Fighter Wing Nov. 3-4, 2018, marking the first visit by a sitting secretary since Kingsley Field opened its gates during WWII.

During her visit, Wilson had the opportunity to see firsthand the wing’s mission, which is the sole training provider of F-15C air superiority pilots to the U.S. Air Force. The base coined the phrase, “America’s air superiority starts here,” to describe a mission vital to the interests of the Air Force.

KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – The Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, will visit the 173rd Fighter Wing this weekend. Secretary Wilson will the tour base, meet with Airmen, and see the mission first-hand when she flies in the backseat of an F-15 Eagle.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today announced that the Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, will visit Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls this weekend on invitation from Representative Walden. Secretary Wilson will join Walden in Klamath Falls to meet with the troops and commanders at Kingsley Field to learn more about the home of Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing, including the base’s capability to become a future home of a next-generation fighter jet, such as the F-35.

The Klamath County School District has hired a 21-year Air Force veteran and state superintendent of Kingsley Field’s 173rd Fighter Wing as its new construction project manager and maintenance supervisor. Mike Jones will start with the district Nov. 5, replacing Justin Azevedo who is leaving the area to pursue new opportunities.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Airtanker 06 will fly for the last time this Sunday to the Klamath Falls Airtanker Base where it will be retired to become a display for the public to enjoy along with the Airtanker 61 Memorial.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - The area surrounding Klamath Falls, Ore., is typified by forests, wilderness, lakes, streams, mountains, and rivers. This draws people from all over the state to enjoy the beauty and adventure of the outdoors. Many 173rd Fighter Wing Airmen enjoy these activities, and a number of them are combining one of their core values, service before self, and their love of nature.

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, September 4 at 1:30 p.m. for the new 173rd Fighter Wing recruiting center office, located at the Recruiting Career Center in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Klamath Falls News

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